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Get Your (Healthy) Snack On

Happy Tuesday Newsday!

Today’s tidbit of news comes as no surprise to me, a self-proclaimed snackaholic whose weaknesses include carrots with hummus and anything smothered in peanut butter. But new research from The NPD Group shows that snacking actually accounts for a whopping 20 percent of all “eating occasions” for American adults.

If you’re wondering what happened to breakfast, lunch and dinner, they haven’t disappeared – they’re just shrinking. Results of the research indicate that although fewer people are skipping meals altogether, more are eating “mini meals,” with less food.

More than 50 percent of those surveyed admitted to snacking two to three times per day – and surprisingly, those with the healthiest diets were likely to snack frequently.

Is all this talk about snacking making you hungry?

Before you reach for your favorite snack food, read our top 3 snacking tips to help you keep it healthy:

1. Drink water. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – if you’re feeling a twinge of hunger, you may actually be dehydrated. Drink a glass of water to see if it satisfies your needs. If you’re still hungry, go ahead and grab a (healthy) snack!

2. B.Y.O.S. When mid-afternoon hunger strikes, don’t rely on the unhealthy options in the vending machine. Pack your own snack to ensure you’ll be munching on something healthy. Our favorite ideas: 1 medium-sized apple with almond butter, baby carrots with hummus, a snack bar or a handful of pistachios.

3. Measure it. Unlimited portions can lead to mindless snacking – instead of grabbing an entire bag of pretzels, avoid the temptation to overeat by measuring out a snack-size portion ahead of time.

Be prepared for your next snack attack by stocking up on healthy foods at Vitacost.com! (And don’t forget to Set & Save your favorites – because it stinks to run out!)

About Katie

Katie is the Content Supervisor (and a loyal customer) at Vitacost.com. In her spare time, she enjoys biking with her husband, playing with her pets and writing bios about herself.
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3 comments on «Get Your (Healthy) Snack On»

well it depends on how hugnry you typicall get at lunch time;for me Im always starving, so Peanut Butter sandwiches are perfect for satisfying me.However i always put a twist on mine =)I dont use jelly because its high in added sugars so i usually slice fresh fruit into my sandwichex. Stawberries, raspberries, bananas, apples.and depending on how many calories are in the bread and how much pb you use your sandwich could be anywhere between 200-400 calories so pay attention to that.for snacks try;light yogurtsfruitsliced up cucumbers with a teeny bit of salt for flavorcarrots and hummus or ranchA tip: DO NOT drink juice boxes, or eat fruit snacks or chips and crackers, they are pretty much empty calories they dont fill you up and have little beneficial nutritional value.stick to water, propel, and 1-3 glasses of milk a day =)